Vivarium Setup

[Occellatus]

Allrite folks....done my first super simple vivarium setup. Entire setup took me just slightly less than an hour to do. Heres how i did.

Step 1

Took some FOC plastic plant pots to support the false bottom.



Step 2

Cut out the support for the false bottom using egg crate. One corner is cut away to enable easy access incase the pump needs to be removed in future.



Step 3

Position them nicely. Depth of false bottom depends on amount of water and depth of substrate u want ur vivarium to have.



Step 4

I placed a small pump (200l/hr) at one corner of the tank. This is to create the sprinkling effect, and also to keep the tank moist and always with water. Helps to prevent stagnant water below the false bottom as well.

[Occellatus]

Step 5

Cut out a layer of plastic mesh and position on the false bottom. This is to prevent the leca from falling below



Step 6

I constructed a partition using plastic board from the bookstore. This is to prevent the GEX soil from falling down into the pump.



How it looks like from the top.



Step 7

Pour in the leca then followed by the GEX soil

[Occellatus]

Step 8

Siliconed the rocky background, added the Gex, installed the PL light, filled it up with water to slightly below the top of the Gex soil and planted one dunno what plant which i got.





Still yet to do the sprinkler system and maybe add in some small pieces of curved wood and more emmersed plants. Need to DIY a clear plastic cover too so that high humidity can be acheived.

Made a big mistake while doing though

Any advises bros/sis?

just curious...... whats the big mistake

just curious too, how do you do up the background ? using wat material ?

[Occellatus]

The big mistake is.........I did not put a layer of fine material (eg. netting / filter bag) above the leca and below the GEX soil. The GEX soil able to penetrate slowly down into the leca and into the false bottom below. Im gonna tear off everything and do everything rite. Just took alot of moss from the grass. Gonna do up the landscaping later. Should be able to come up with the final design tonight.

[nt1202]

well done bro, nw i've to search for a corner in my house to start constructing a vivarium

[Occellatus]

Originally Posted by nt1202

well done bro, nw i've to search for a corner in my house to start constructing a vivarium

Remember to update with pics!

Anyway, was very busy for the past 2 weeks...did not top up water to maintain the emmersed environment...my downoi totally melt and died.

[nt1202]

bro, after loboing to some time, i've finally done with my minirium (not sure wat name to call), in order to sastify my needs to be able to keep fishes, i end up adding half of my tank with water. simple set-up with those plants also taken downstairs from my car park, hehe (not sure wat it's call ) some modify is still needed as i itend to add some moses and plants to created a natural look. any suggestions? do feel feel to comment, tks

[nt1202]

not sure if you can view from here, but u will be able to view from my photo album